Dementia Care in Merrick, NY: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Merrick, NY: the local picture

270

residents 85 or older (1.2% of all residents)

3,991

residents 65 or older (18% of Merrick)

21%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Nassau County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Merrick has about 270 residents aged 85 or older among 3,991 aged 65 or older. The risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about a third of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

21% of residents 65 and older report a disability (27% in Nassau County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

15% of older Merrick residents in households live alone. For someone with memory loss who lives alone, a few hours of daily check-ins are often the first step.

Merrick compared with Nassau County and New York

Census figure	Merrick	Nassau County	New York
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	2.6%	2.2%
Residents 65 or older	18%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	27%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	15%	20%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.0%	6.7%	13%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	31%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$123,203	$100,301	—

Older residents in towns around Merrick

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Bellmore, NY	1.4 mi	2,428	361
Freeport, NY	1.7 mi	6,672	703
Wantagh, NY	2.4 mi	2,921	333
Roosevelt, NY	2.4 mi	1,965	251
North Merrick, NY	2.5 mi	2,497	334
North Bellmore, NY	2.7 mi	3,441	322

Nursing homes near Merrick

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
South Shore Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Freeport, NY	2.1 mi	3 of 5	100	(516) 623-4000
Meadowbrook Care Center	Freeport, NY	2.3 mi	5 of 5	280	(516) 377-8200
Belair Care Center Inc	Bellmore, NY	2.7 mi	5 of 5	102	(516) 826-1160
A Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility	Uniondale, NY	3.4 mi	1 of 5	589	(516) 572-1400
Mount Sinai South Nassau T C U	Oceanside, NY	4.1 mi	5 of 5	20	(516) 632-3500
Mayfair Care Center	Hempstead, NY	4.6 mi	1 of 5	200	(516) 538-7171

Hospices serving Merrick

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Good Shepherd Hospice	Farmingdale, NY	8.3 mi	(631) 465-6300
Hospice Care Of Long Island, Queens, South Shore	Woodbury, NY	12 mi	(516) 832-7100
Vns And Hospice Of Suffolk, Inc	East Northport, NY	19 mi	(631) 930-9399
Calvary Home Health Agency And Hospice Care	Bronx, NY	20 mi	(718) 518-2465

Straight-line miles from the center of Merrick. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a dementia caregiver can help with

Keeping a predictable daily routine
Gentle help with bathing, dressing and toileting
Meals, hydration and medication reminders
Calming approaches for sundowning, agitation and repeated questions

Cost

What dementia care costs in Merrick

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $10,267 monthly median income of Merrick households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a dementia caregiver

An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Facts and Figures. Most live at home, cared for by family. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free.

Questions worth asking: Tell me about someone with dementia you cared for. What worked? What do you do when a client becomes agitated in the late afternoon? How do you keep someone safe who tries to leave the house? More in our dementia care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Dementia Care in Merrick: common questions

What nursing homes are near Merrick?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are South Shore Rehabilitation And Nursing Center in Freeport (2.1 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Meadowbrook Care Center in Freeport (2.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Belair Care Center Inc in Bellmore (2.7 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Merrick?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $10,267 monthly median income of Merrick households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

When does someone with dementia need care at home?

Common signs are missed meals or medication, getting lost in familiar places, unsafe cooking or driving, and a family caregiver who is exhausted. Many families start with a few hours a day and add hours, nights or live-in help as the disease progresses.

More near Merrick

More senior care near Merrick

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merrick

More for Merrick families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in Merrick, NY